Corner mount warning system

ABSTRACT

A corner mount warning system includes a housing adapted to receive and engage a corner of two perpendicular walls. The housing has a top wall, a bottom wall, an inner side wall, an outer side wall, a first end wall, and a second end wall. Each end wall has a motion detector and at least one warning device. The motion detectors and the at least one warning device are connected to and operated by a control system.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.17/683,961 filed Mar. 1, 2022, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S.application Ser. No. 16/223,566 filed Dec. 18, 2018, the contents ofthese applications are hereby incorporated by reference in theirentirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a corner mount warning system. Moreparticularly the invention is directed to a system that detects andwarns of oncoming traffic from around a corner.

High traffic areas such as hallways in schools, hospitals, offices,hotels, senior care facilities, warehouses, big box stores and the likepresent potential hazard areas. In particular, at corners, where twoperpendicular walls meet, there is a potential for a collision betweenindividuals and/or objects. When individuals alone, or individuals withobjects such as equipment carts, wheelchairs, and the likesimultaneously reach a corner, where view of oncoming traffic isobscured, there is the potential for a collision, injury, and/or damageto equipment. Accordingly, a need exists in the art for a system thataddresses these problems.

An objective of the present invention is to provide a corner warningsystem to prevent or reduce accidents.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a cornerwarning system that is small, lightweight, and low-cost.

A still further objective of the present invention is to provide acorner warning system that improves the efficiency of movement in abusy, fast-paced environment.

These and other objectives will be apparent to those having ordinaryskill in the art based upon the following written description, drawings,and claims.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A corner mount warning system includes a housing that is adapted to fitabout a corner of two perpendicular walls. The housing has a top wall, abottom wall, an inner side wall, an outer side wall, a first end wall,and a second end wall. Preferably, the inner side wall engages the twowalls for its entire length or alternatively engages a mounting plate.The first and second end walls dwell in planes that are perpendicular toone another.

Each end wall has at least one motion detector and at least one warningdevice. The motion detectors are positioned to detect movement in atraffic pattern adjacent the walls toward the corner. The warning deviceincludes a speaker adapted to produce an audible warning, a blinkinglight, and/or lights of different colors.

Disposed within the housing is a control system having a processorconnected to a power source, the motion detectors, and the warningdevice. Upon detection of movement toward the corner the motion detectorsends a signal to the control system. The control system processes thesignal and sends a directive signal to the warning device(s) in theother end wall from the end wall of the motion detector to activate thewarning signal(s).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a corner warning system;

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of a corner warning system;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a corner warning system;

FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of a warning system;

FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of a warning system;

FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of a warning system;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a warning system; and

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a warning system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to the figures, a corner mount warning system 10 includes ahousing 12 having a top wall 14, a bottom wall 16, an inner side wall18, an outer side wall 20, a first end wall 22, and a second end wall24. The inner side wall 18 has a first section 26 that extends from thefirst end wall 22 to an inner corner 28. A second section 30 of theinner side wall 18 extends perpendicularly in relation to the firstsection 26 from the corner 28 to the second end wall 24.

The inner side wall 18 is formed to receive and engage a corner 32 oftwo perpendicular walls 34 and is mounted at the floor, the ceiling, oranywhere in between. The inner side wall 18 is mounted directly to thewalls 34 with screws, adhesive, or the like. Alternatively, a mountingplate 40 is mounted to the walls 34 and the inner side wall 18 ismounted to the mounting plate 40.

The outer side wall 20 also has a first section 42 and a second section44 that are generally perpendicular to one another and extend from thefirst end wall 22 and the second end wall 24 to an outer corner 46. Theouter corner 46 can form a sharp point, or preferably is rounded toprevent injuries. Also, a cover 48 can be made of resilient materialsuch as rubber or the like to prevent damage to the housing 12.

The end walls 22 and 24 have at least one, and preferably a plurality ofopenings 50 in each. Disposed within the housing 12, and aligned withand extending out of the openings 50 in each end wall 22 and 24, are atleast one motion detector 52, at least one light 54, and at least onespeaker 56.

At least one motion detector 52 is adjustable and adapted to detectmotion in a traffic path 57 adjacent the walls 34. Alternatively, morethan one motion detector 52 are used and adapted so that their signalscross along the traffic path 57.

Also disposed within the housing 12, is a control system 58 having aprocessor 60 that operates software 62 and memory 63. The control system58 is connected to a power source 64 such as a replaceable orrechargeable battery or an external source such as an electric socket.

The motion detectors 52, lights 54, and speakers 56 are all connected toand operated by the control system 58. In operation, the motiondetectors 52A and 52B are positioned to detect motion within the trafficpaths 57A and 57B respectively. When motion is detected, the motiondetector 52A sends a signal to the control system 58. Using the software62, the processor 60 activates a warning signal only at the end wallopposite the motion detector 52A. The warning signal includes an audiosignal through speaker 56, a blinking of one or more of the lights 54,and/or a switch in color of the lights such as from green to red. Theintensity of the warning can be intensified, such as a louder audiosignal and/or faster flickering of the lights 54 when the system 10detects motion approaching the corner 32 that is estimated by thecontrol system 58 to arrive at approximately the same time.

In an alternative embodiment a bridge or arc of multiple colored lights66 extend from a first motion detector 52A to a second 52B. As such, thearc of lights 66 curves around the corner 32 of the walls 34. When nomotion is detected in the traffic path 57 the control system sends asignal to a first light 66A (i.e., green), and when motion is detectedin the traffic path 57 the control system deactivates the first light66A and sends a signal to activate the second light 66B (i.e. red).

In yet another embodiment, the system is mounted above a door 68 so thata first motion detector 52A is mounted to the wall 34 on one side of thedoor 68, and a second motion detector 52B is mounted to the oppositeside of the wall 34 and door 68. The motion detectors 52A and 52B arepositioned to scan downwardly toward a traffic path 57 and are connectedby wiring that extends through the wall 34 or door header. As previouslydescribed, the motion detectors 52A and 52B are connected to the controlsystem 58. When both motion detectors 52A and 52B sense motion in thetraffic path the control system 58 sends a signal activating an audioand/or video alarm 70.

In still another embodiment, the system 10 is mounted to a ceiling 72adjacent one or more corners 32. The system has multiple sensing units74 that preferably are triangular in shape. At least one sensing unit 74is positioned in spaced relation to the corner 32 at a 45 degree angle,which forms two sides 76 that dwell in 90 degree planes to one another.The sides 76 each have an opening 78 through which tiltable motiondetectors 52 extend. Each side 76 also has a laser portal 80 throughwhich a laser 82 emits a design that is projected on a nearby wall 34(i.e., caution) and activates a remote alarm 84 near the corner 32 onthe wall 34. As previously described the motion detectors 52 areconnected to a control system 58 and when motion is detected in atraffic path 57 one or more of the lasers 82 are activated as well asthe remote alarm 84.

Accordingly, a corner mount warning system has been disclosed that, atthe very least, meets all the stated objectives.

What is claimed is:
 1. A warning system, comprising: a first motiondetector and a second motion detector connected to a control system andmounted to and extending through a wall above a door; wherein the firstand second motion detector are positioned on opposite sides of the doorto detect motion in traffic paths on each side of the door; and whereinthe control system is adapted to activate an alarm when both the firstand second motion detectors detect motion.
 2. The system of claim 1wherein the first and second motion detectors are positioned to scandownwardly the traffic path.
 3. The system of claim 1 wherein the firstand second motion detectors are connected by wiring that extends throughthe wall.
 4. The system of claim 1 wherein the first and second motiondetectors are connected by wiring that extends through a door head. 5.The system of claim 1 wherein the alarm is activated when both the firstand second motion detectors detect motion in a traffic path.
 6. Thesystem of claim 1 wherein the alarm is a video alarm.